Laser Tattoo Removal

Do you have a tattoo that you thought you would love forever but now you’ve fallen out of love with the design (or the person who inspired it)? Perhaps you have a tattoo in a highly visible place and wish it could be removed?

Life is too short for regrets, and we understand how frustrating it can be to have a tattoo that no longer represents who you are as a person. Laser tattoo removal is an excellent option that is less invasive than surgery or dermabrasion. In some cases, it may only be possible to fade your tattoo – depending on size and ink colours – so it can be covered with a new design, but we also have excellent results with full tattoo removal.

If you have a tattoo that you would like removed, you’re welcome to book in for a free one-to-one consultation so we can see your tattoo and give our recommendations based on your individual case.

Before & After Gallery:

Check out the laser tattoo removal pictures below so you can see the results some of our patients have enjoyed.

FAQs

With laser tattoo removal, we use ultra-short pulses of laser energy to heat the ink in your tattoo. The bright light emitted by the laser creates a photo-mechanical impact which breaks up the tattoo ink or pigmentation into small particles that your body is able to eliminate over time. Once we have broken down the top layer of ink, we can then target the lower layers. Different laser wavelengths work on different ink colours.

Laser tattoo removal is highly effective on black inks, whereas green ink in particular can be difficult to remove. We also find that heavy professional tattoos may not go completely, leaving you with a faint outline of your tattoo by the end of your treatment. It should still be a significant improvement on your existing tattoo.

For the best results, you will probably need several treatments – usually one month apart – so that we can break down the layers of ink within your skin and target as much of the tattooed pigment as possible.

During a tattoo laser removal session, we use a handheld device to deliver quick bursts of the laser to your tattoo. This is sometimes compared to the sensation of having a tattoo or of hot fat spattering your skin. If you would like an anaesthetic cream for your skin, do let us know and we can give you a prescription so that you can apply the cream before your appointment.

Your tattoo will feel hot immediately after your appointment, and may be red and slightly swollen for the rest of the day. Larger tattoos sometimes feel tender for a couple of days. You may even find that you experience some scabbing over the top of the tattoo site. Your tattoo won’t look different immediately but, as the pigment begins to break down over the next few days and weeks, you should notice it becoming lighter.

During your treatment, you (and anyone in the room with you) will need to wear protective googles to protect your eyes from the laser light.

Laser tattoo removal has a fantastic safety record, especially in skilled and experienced hands. Scarring is unlikely but it can occur in rare cases, in which case you might notice a slight change to your skin texture. You should avoid picking any scabs that form after your treatment as this is the most common cause of scarring.

Occasionally people notice a loss of natural skin pigment in the treated area. To help avoid this, you should avoid tanning your skin before laser tattoo removal. Any changes to pigment usually resolve naturally.

After laser tattoo removal, you should be careful with the treatment area to avoid damaging any scabs that form. If you think you might pick at them, you might want to cover the area. If blisters form, you may want to cover them as they will resolve naturally if left untouched.

During your course of treatment, you should wear a high factor sunblock and avoid tanning your skin.

To find out whether laser tattoo removal is the right option for you, we would recommend that you come into the Cotswold Face and Body Clinic for a one-to-one consultation. This will give you the chance to ask any questions that you have and we will be able to assess the size and inks used to create your tattoo before devising a treatment plan.